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Gala for “FACES” at NYU Langone Raises $4.5 Million
SNL’s Seth Meyers served as emcee; Leon Charney Honored;
former patient and author Susannah Cahalan served as guest
speaker for event to benefit clinical and
research advances, education and awareness of epilepsy
New York,
NY, March 8, 2013 — More than $4.5 million dollars were
raised at the Finding A Cure for Epilepsy and Seizures
(FACES) Gala, held on Tuesday, March 5th at Pier
Sixty at Chelsea Piers in Manhattan, in support of epilepsy
initiatives at NYU Langone Medical Center. More than 750
guests attended the event where funds raised will provide
for life-enhancing programs in cutting-edge research,
clinical care, education and awareness programs, and
community building events.
FACES,
affiliated with NYU Langone and its Comprehensive Epilepsy
Center, funds research to improve epilepsy care, advances
new therapies, and fosters a supportive community for
children, families and caregivers who live with the
challenges of epilepsy.
“The mission
of FACES is to improve the quality of life for all those
affected by epilepsy and seizures,” said Orrin Devinsky, MD,
professor of neurology, neurosurgery and psychiatry director
of the Comprehensive Epilepsy Center at NYU Langone Medical
Center and founder of FACES. “But ultimately, our goal is to
find a cure. The generous support provided by all of you in
attendance tonight will help get us closer and closer to
finding the cure.”
Special
guests in attendance
included: Leah and Michael Weisberg; Loretta Brennan
Glucksman; Katie and Todd Boehly; Ginny and Steven Spiegel;
Alice Thorpe and Amy Pollner Moritz; Melissa Mathison and
Georgia Ford; Bill Lambert; Kate Cooney Picco; Randi and
Jeffrey Levine; Mary Quick Pedersen; Harry and Claudia Falk;
Carol and Sheldon Pressler; Carolyn and Steven Kotler;
Barbara and Joe Walsh; Warren Lammert; Veronica Mainetti;
Susan and David Swinghamer; Cookie and David Fishel; Marc
Mayer; Francia and James Shaw; and Anna and Jim Fantaci.
During the
event, Dr. Devinsky welcomed and thanked the guests before
turning the night’s events over to this year’s Master of
Ceremonies, Seth Meyers, the head writer, actor and comedian
on NBC’s Saturday Night Live. Many of FACES key supporters
were recognized, including Gala Chairs Leon and Tzili
Charney, who are regarded as pillars of business and
philanthropic communities – with Mr. Charney also the
serving as the evening’s Honoree, and Leah and Michael
Weisberg for generously underwriting the event.
Additionally, guest speaker and author Susannah Cahalan
spoke of her months long experience with autoimmune
encephalitis and care by Dr. Najjar at NYU Langone, which
became the basis of her now best-selling book, “Brain on
Fire.”
One of the
evening’s highlights was the silent auction of 350 items –
including high end electronics, vacation packages and
jewelry – which was an event in itself, raising $300,000
toward the evening’s success. The evening concluded with the
annual live auction – which is one of largest held in New
York – chaired by Roger Erickson, Senior Managing Director
and Associate Broker for Sotheby’s International Realty, who
was joined by guest auctioneer Jamie Ritchie, CEO and
President of Americas and Asia, Sotheby’s Wine Department.
Please visit
http://faces.med.nyu.edu/ for additional information on
FACES.
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About NYU Langone Medical Center:
NYU Langone Medical Center, a
world-class, patient-centered, integrated, academic medical
center, is one of the nation’s premier centers for
excellence in clinical care, biomedical research and medical
education. Located in the heart of Manhattan, NYU Langone is
composed of four hospitals – Tisch Hospital, its flagship
acute care facility; Rusk Rehabilitation; the Hospital for
Joint Diseases, one of only five hospitals in the nation
dedicated to orthopaedics and rheumatology; and Hassenfeld
Pediatric Center, a comprehensive pediatric hospital
supporting a full array of children’s health services across
the Medical Center – plus the NYU School of Medicine, which
since 1841 has trained thousands of physicians and
scientists who have helped to shape the course of medical
history. The medical center’s tri-fold mission to serve,
teach and discover is achieved 365 days a year through the
seamless integration of a culture devoted to excellence in
patient care, education and research. For more information,
go to
www.NYULMC.org.
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